Non-contact, high resolution magnetic sensor system

Abstract

A non-contact magnetic sensor system according to one embodiment includes a substrate and a magnetic medium spaced from the substrate and having a data track thereon. A sensor element is mounted to the substrate. A guiding element biases the substrate towards the magnetic medium. A first magnetic track is positioned on the substrate. A second magnetic track is positioned on the magnetic medium. Orientations of the magnetizations of the magnetic tracks are such that the substrate experiences a vertical force away from the magnetic medium.

1. A non-contact magnetic sensor system, comprising:
 a substrate having a substantially planar surface with at least one sensor element mounted to the substrate, the at least one sensor element being directed by a guiding element towards at least one data track on a substantially planar magnetic medium positioned opposite the at least one sensor element, the guiding element biases the substrate towards the magnetic medium, wherein the substantially planar surface of the substrate and the substantially planar surface of the magnetic medium each carry at least one magnetic track, wherein orientations of magnetizations of the magnetic tracks are such that the substrate experiences a vertical force away from the magnetic medium. 
 
   
   
     2. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor element is selected from the group consisting of a magnetic sensor, an electrical sensor, a force sensor, and a Hall sensor. 
   
   
     3. The magnetic sensor system according to clam  1 , wherein the at least one sensor element is a GMR sensor or a TMR senser. 
   
   
     4. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor element is part of a read/write head. 
   
   
     5. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a slider. 
   
   
     6. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 1 , wherein the guiding element is a suspension. 
   
   
     7. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 1 , wherein the guiding element includes at least one of a spring, a magnet, and a pneumatic/hydlraulic pressure element. 
   
   
     8. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic medium is a magnetic disk. 
   
   
     9. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnetic track include at least two levitation magnets. 
   
   
     10. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 9 , wherein the levitation magnets are permanent magnets or electromagnets. 
   
   
     11. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the magnetic tracks further includes a pair of magnets flanking the levitation magnet of the magnetic track, the pair of magnets creating a horizontal force for helping maintain an alignment of the at least one sensor element with the at least one data track. 
   
   
     12. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the levitation magnets is a laminate of magnetic and non magnetic layers. 
   
   
     13. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate and the magnetic medium are able to perform a relative movement. 
   
   
     14. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 1 , wherein the gap between the substrate and the magnetic medium is less than about 10μm. 
   
   
     15. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 1 , wherein the gap between the substrate and the magnetic medium is less than about 1μm. 
   
   
     16. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 1 , wherein the vertical force between the at least two magnetic tracks counteracts the biasing of the guiding element for establishing about a constant distance between the substrate and the magnetic medium. 
   
   
     17. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a tool coupled to the substrate. 
   
   
     18. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor element is, in the alternative, at least one tool adapted to modify a surface of the magnetic medium. 
   
   
     19. A non-contact magnetic sensor system, comprising:
 a substrate; 
 a magnetic medium spaced from the substrate and having a data track thereon; 
 a sensor clement mounted to the substrate; 
 a guiding element biasing the substrate towards the magnetic medium; 
 a first magnetic tack positioned on the substrate; 
 a second magnetic track positioned on the magnetic medium: 
 wherein orientations of magnetizations of the magnetic tracks are such that the substrate experiences a vertical force away from the magnetic medium. 
 
   
   
     20. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 19 , wherein the sensor element is selected from the group consisting of a magnetic sensor, an electrical sensor, a force sensor, and a Hall sensor. 
   
   
     21. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 19 , wherein the sensor element is a GMR sensor or a TMR sensor. 
   
   
     22. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 19 , wherein the sensor element is part of a read/write head. 
   
   
     23. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 19 , further comprising a tool coupled to the substrate. 
   
   
     24. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 19 , wherein the sensor element is, in the alternative, a tool adapted to modify a surface of the magnetic medium. 
   
   
     25. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 19 , wherein the substrate is a slider. 
   
   
     26. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 19 , wherein the guiding element is a suspension. 
   
   
     27. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 19 , wherein the guiding element includes at least one of a spring, a magnet, and a pneumatic/hydraulic pressure element. 
   
   
     28. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 19 , wherein the magnetic medium is a magnetic disk. 
   
   
     29. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 19 , wherein each magnetic track include a levitation magnet. 
   
   
     30. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 29 , wherein the levitation magnets are permanent magnets or electromagnets. 
   
   
     31. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 29 , wherein at least one of the magnetic tracks further includes a pair of magnets flanking the levitation magnet of the magnetic track, the pair of magnets creating a horizontal orce for helping maintain an alignment of the sensor element with the data track. 
   
   
     32. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 29 , wherein at least one of the levitation magnets is a laminate of magnetic and non magnetic layers. 
   
   
     33. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 19 , wherein the substrate and the magnetic medium are able to perform a relative movement. 
   
   
     34. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 19 , wherein the gap between the substrate and the magnetic medium is less than about 10μm. 
   
   
     35. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 19 , wherein the gap between the substrate and the magnetic medium is less than about 1μm. 
   
   
     36. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 19 , wherein the vertical force between the at least two magnetic tracks counteracts the biasing of the guiding element for establishing about a constant distance between the substrate and the magnetic medium. 
   
   
     37. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 19 , wherein the magnetic medium is generally planar. 
   
   
     38. The magnetic sensor system according to  claim 19 , wherein the magnetic medium is generally cylindrically shaped. 
   
   
     39. A non-contact magnetic sensor system, comprising:
 a substrate; 
 a magnetic sensor element mounted to the substrate; 
 a magnetic medium spaced from the substrate and having a data track thereon; 
 a guiding element biasing the substrate towards the magnetic medium; 
 a first magnetic track positioned on the substrate; 
 a second magnetic track positioned on the magnetic medium; 
 wherein orientations of magnetizations of the magnetic tracks are such that the substrate experiences a vertical force away from the magnetic medium, 
 wherein at least one of the magnetic tracks further includes a pair of magnets flanking a levitation magnet of the magnetic track, the pair of magnets creating a horizontal force for helping maintain an alignment of the sensor element with the data track.